It is a truth universally acknowledged that people love to talk. Too much. What follows are assorted pearls of wisdom, culled from Light Reading's always popular Quotes of the Week.

2006 was, like every year, chockablock with folk – in and out of the industry – tumbling over their tongues. And, like every year, the U.S. Congress led the way. There was Sen. Ted Stevens explaining the Internet:

"The Internet is not something you just dump something on. It's not a truck. It's a series of tubes."

And Sen. George Allen explaining his own open-door policy:

"Let's give a welcome to macaca, here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia."

Then there was Mark Foley...

Being a family-friendly site, we can't cite any of that Congressman's e-ribaldry, but the always quotable Giorgio Anania, Bookham CEO, borrowed a page from his playbook: "They want me to talk dirty again."

Leaving politics aside, let us proceed with a couple of other truths universally acknowledged. Ken Dulaney, Gartner's VP of Mobile Computing, reminds us that time flies like an arrow*: "Had 2005 come first there never would have been a 2004."

And Robert Hyatt, Executive Director at Cingular Wireless, has uncovered America's deepest, darkest secret:"All of the initial indications are that people are pretty ravenous about being connected to TV."

Google SVP Alan Eustace waxes lyrical on this Best of All Possible Worlds: "We’re now in the golden age of technology. This is as good as it gets."

That may well be, but Peter Cochrane, ConceptLabs Founder and former BT CTO, embraces a more nuanced view:"Video conferencing is crap."

And George Riedel, Nortel CSO, prefers to hearken back to a simpler, yet happier, time: "I used to have hair before I started this."

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, James Harrison of Houston may feel that Golden Age will only arrive when AT&T DSLAMs stop blowing up in his neighborhood: "It shook the house pretty good."

Todd Stewart, Charter Communications VP, pinpoints the universally acknowledged problem:"In phase one, we're getting the Scarecrow up and walking. Now we want to put the brain in the Scarecrow."

Well. Golden Ages and Scarecrows aside, here's one last inarguable truth from Dorothy, the Small and Meek, a.k.a. Dana Frix, Attorney with Chadbourne and Park:"The small, the petite, will always be harmed."Let's close with small, petite Ciena CEO Gary Smith's disclosure of his firm's successful marketing strategy: "Any confusion is good for us."

Yes! Confusion: Where would we be without it? May 2007 continue the trend!

— Larry, Attack Monkey, Light Reading

* Fruit flies, of course, like a banana. Monkeys do too! (A Holiday Reminder)